New Music: Dinosaur Jr., I Want You to Know

04.30.09

Song: I Want You to Know
Artist: Dinosaur Jr.
Album: Farm
Label: Jagjaguwar Records
Notes: 1st single from LP
Analysis: Now that‘s some artwork. Indie rock legends Dinosaur Jr. are on their ninth record in almost 25 years, and don’t sound like they’ve aged a bit.

New Music: Reflection Eternal, Back Again

04.30.09

Song: Back Again
Artist: Reflection Eternal
Album: unknown
Label: Rawkus Records
Producer: Hi-Tek
Notes: none
Analysis: ‘That’s right, we back again / you can like rap again‘.

Music Video: Asher Roth, Be By Myself [ft. Cee-Lo Green]

04.30.09

Song: Be By Myself [ft. Cee-Lo Green]
Artist: Asher Roth
Album: Asleep in the Bread Aisle
Label: SRC / Universal
Producer: Oren Yoel
Notes: 2nd single from LP
Analysis: So here’s Asher’s first “real” music video, one with a major label-sized budget and actual visual effects. It actually has a pretty swanky 007 opening credits feel to it, and Cee-Lo is one stylish mother fucker ain’t he? The song’s grown on me a bit, and it’s good as a single because it’s party music. But there are a few better tracks on Asleep, and if I had to guess I would say that one of those – ‘La Di Da’ – is next up for the single/music video treatment. For now though, ‘Be By Myself’ is good enough.

Music Video: Raekwon, New Wu [ft. Method Man & Ghostface Killah]

04.30.09

Song: New Wu [ft. Method Man & Ghostface Killah]
Artist: Raekwon
Album: Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II
Label: Icewater / EMI Records
Producer: unknown
Notes: 1st single from LP
Analysis: Originally leaked earlier this year as ‘Wu Oooh’, ‘New Wu’ now gets the official release under a new name but with the same heavy sound.The video’s pretty low budget, just the guys rapping with some chickenhead hoochies dancing around, and a loosely weaved-in drug storyline. But man, all three of these guys have been on a roll this year with everything they’ve put out or appeared on. There hasn’t been one weak verse between any of them. ‘New Wu’ might be the cream of the ‘09 Wu-Tang crop though.

New Music: Murs, Doing Me [ft. Terrace Martin & J. Black]

04.30.09

Song: Doing Me [ft. Terrace Martin & J. Black]
Artist: Murs
Album: The Melrose
Label: Warner Brothers Records
Producer: Terrace Martin
Notes: none
Analysis: Fresh off releasing a nice series of music videos lately, Murs can now turn his attention to a new project – The Melrose.

New Music: Method Man & Redman, Dangerous MCs

04.30.09

Song: Dangerous MCs
Artist: Method Man & Redman
Album: Blackout! 2
Label: Def Jam Records
Producer: Erick Sermon
Notes: none
Analysis: I don’t know why but I’m still surprised that Blackout! 2 is sounding this good. I was really afraid that I’d be disappointed, but after hearing about five tracks so far, I’ve yet to be let down. ‘Dangerous MCs’ is no different, but sounds more like something off of the original Blackout! than anything else we’ve heard from the sequel.

Music Video: The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Young Adult Friction

04.30.09

Song: Young Adult Friction
Artist: The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
Album: The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
Label: Slumberland Records
Notes: 2nd single from LP
Analysis: Don’t let the band name fool you…alright well the music is just as wimpy as it sounds like it’d be. But it’s catchy and at least fun to listen to. It’s also probably the first song that I could ever classify as “library rock”. From the punny song title to the lyrics making reference to moldy pages and microfiche; the song also ends with a singalong chant of “don’t check me out“. Get it? It’s a dorky tune, but that’s the charm.

New Music: Statik Selektah, The Thrill is Gone [ft. Styles P & Talib Kweli]

04.30.09

Song: The Thrill is Gone [ft. Styles P & Talib Kweli]
Artist: Statik Selektah
Album: The Hangover
Label: Showoff Records
Producer: Statik Selektah
Notes: 1st single from LP
Analysis: Anyone who’s been following this site since January knows that Statik Selektah is one of my favorite hip hop producers of today. He’s put out two dope, underrated albums since 2007 with the help of dozens of talented contributers and is readying his junior year LP entitled The Hangover. Speaking of talented contributers you couldn’t ask for much better help than Styles P & Talib Kweli. Statik prepares the beat with some jazz lounge pianos for the two NY-bred emcees to spit over. ‘The Thrill is Gone’ refers to the hip hop genre itself, and what it’s become.

Music Video: Ducktails, Landrunner

04.30.09

Song: Landrunner
Artist: Ducktails
Album: Landscapes
Label: Olde English Spelling Bee
Notes: 1st single from LP
Analysis: The greatest cartoon theme song of all time is Ducktales. That’s a fact. It’s only natural for a group to finally name themselves after such a classic. This is the first song I’ve heard from them, and it’s all instrumental. I have no idea if all of their stuff is like that, but I like what I hear. It’s a trance-inducing guitar track set to some artsy animation. Easy stuff to kick back to this weekend.

New Music: Passion Pit, Moth’s Wings

04.30.09

Song: Moth’s Wings
Artist: Passion Pit
Album: Manners
Label: Frenchkiss Records
Notes: none
Analysis: Wow, this Passion Pit album is actually shaping up to be pretty fucking great.